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Nonprofit · EIN 36-5031283

MESA FOUNDATION

Tax-exempt · LA JOLLA, CA 92037

Financials

$1.9M$1.8M2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of MESA FOUNDATION by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$1,861,242$1,754,033$107,209$990,626$1,429$989,197
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$1,775,125
Program service revenue
$30,000
Investment income
$56,117
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$79,933
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$86,293
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$7,816
Accounting fees
$7,485
Depreciation
$264
Program services (functional)
$1,728,885
Management and general (functional)
$25,148

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$985,983
Total assets, end of year
$990,626
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,429
Net assets, end of year
$989,197
Land, buildings and equipment
$528
Net assets without donor restrictions
$989,197
Gross receipts
$1,861,242
Employees
1
Volunteers
3
Year formed
2022
State of legal domicile
CA

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Caroline RipleyPresident
Officer
40$79,933
Jeff SmithChairman
Trustee or director
20$0
Wendy SmithBoard Member
Trustee or director
15$0
Marilyn BrownBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Christine PierceBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Dale YahnkeBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Bill TurpinBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Tommy MorrisSecretary
Officer
2$0
Tommy MorrisTreasurer
Officer
2$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
2223 AVENIDA DE LA PLAYA, LA JOLLA, CA 92037-3200
In care of
% JEFF SMITH
Signed the 990
Caroline Ripley, Executive Dir.
Phone
(858) 544-2200
Return prepared by
HOLMQUIST LIEWALD LLP

Mission

The organization's mission is to create community benefit and beautification, and opportunities for young athletes, disadvantaged youth, the disabled and those suffering from health changes to meet, learn from and be inspired by college athletes.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • It is the mission of Mesa Foundation to create community benefit and beautification, and opportunities for young athletes, disadvantaged youth, the disabled and those suffering from health changes to meet, learn from and be inspired by college athletes.MESA Community Impact 2025The past year included incredible growth with the foundation's reach and impact on the community.We retained our videographer who took on a more advanced role creating content not only for MESA but also traveling with the team, working with our corporate sponsors and collaborating with the athletics department. We hired an operations assistant to assist with social media, donor communications and email marketing. We worked with a designer to enhance our social media branding and most recently did a special project to design t-shirts with each student-athlete. We created additional donor gear for our members to purchase and revamped our merchandise site with a new company.We partnered with StarPALS to host a basketball clinic for local youth. Over the summer we added a new camp with Big Brother, Big Sister for mentors and mentees to learn fundamentals from our student-athletes. We hosted the second annual wheelchair basketball clinic with Challenged Athletes Foundation with 25 wheelchair athletes playing in a clinic with our student-athletes and bonding over the love of basketball. In partnership with SDSU Greek Life, Sigma Chi Fraternity, the Department of Justice and the San Diego City Attorneys office we organized a 3 on 3 basketball tournament to raise awareness for the fentanyl epidemic affecting college aged students. At the event we provided NARCAN to participants. Our student-athletes walked in the ALS Walk and we sold t-shirts that proceeds went back to support the ALS Association. We participated in a food distribution with Feeding San Diego at Hoover High School for the second year in a row providing meals to over 300 families in need. We participated in a food sorting event with the San Diego Food Bank preparing food for families in need throughout San Diego. Our student-athletes also got to tour the main distribution facility and learn about the food bank process.We hosted multiple donor engagement events to continue to steward and cultivate our donor base. We worked through an exhausting transition from Basepath to GiveButter, our new donor management software partner, and continue to clean up that transition.We continued to work with multiple food partners including Woodstocks, Broken Yolk, Luna Grill and Novo and corporate sponsors renewing our previous partners and adding a new partner with J&D Custom Clothier. Each student-athlete was given a custom designed suit tailored to each of their personal styles and size. We are excited for them to be able to wear these suits as they prepare for life after graduation and basketball.Calendar of eventsEach event was supported with social media posts on multiple platforms of MESA and all the Student-Athletes.February 27 - Hosted a tax preparation and financial literacy workshop with UBS and Hamilton Tharp CPA, mandatory for student-athletes to support them during tax season and provide education on saving opportunities.June - Worked with LaChica Sports to invite 2 SAs to Black Athlete Summit in LA to further their awareness of business outside of college sports.April 15 - StarPALS youth basketball campApril 25 - Hosted womens basketball SAs for a food distribution at Lincoln High SchoolJuly 13 - Big Brothers Big Sister children and mentor camp at JAM Center at SDSUJuly 19 - Challenge Athletes wheelchair camp at JAM center on SDSU campusAug 31 - Donor Day at the Del Mar Racetrack with Fan Fest AppearanceSept 14 - DOJ, City Attorney, Greek Life fentanyl awareness basketball tournamentOct 6 - ALS Walk at De Anza Cove in Mission BeachOct 10 - Open Practice with supportersOctober 14-16 - Blood Drive Awareness on campus @SDSU and ad creationOct 31 - Broken Yolk radio show with AM and fan engagement on campus on siteNov 5 - Feeding San Diego & Hoover High School Food PantyNov 5 -Woodstocks filming content creation/fan engagementNov 16 - Top of the Key Event @ Intercontinental San DiegoNov 23 - 26 Las Vegas for Players Era NIL Tourney. Supported Student-Athletes as they navigated their personal and team NIL opportunities through multiple brands.Dec 11 -San Diego Food Bank Distribution FBO Cushman and Jacobs Food Bank
    Expenses $1,728,885

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
36-5031283
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
2022
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$990,626
Income (IRS master file)
$1,861,242

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025–––IRS
990December 2024–––IRS
990December 2023$1,141,721$528,075$738,643IRS
990-EZDecember 2022–––IRS

990-N: the IRS publishes only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years appear here as 990.tax collects the monthly files. 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS.

Questions about MESA FOUNDATION

What is the EIN of MESA FOUNDATION?
The employer identification number (EIN) of MESA FOUNDATION is 36-5031283.
Is MESA FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2022.
Are donations to MESA FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does MESA FOUNDATION file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of MESA FOUNDATION due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did MESA FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who are the officers and directors of MESA FOUNDATION?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 9 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $79,933 (Caroline Ripley, President).
How much revenue does MESA FOUNDATION have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,861,242, expenses of $1,754,033 and total assets of $990,626 at year end.

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